The Anderson transition

Abstract

An outline is given of the electrical properties expected in a disordered solid or fluid which shows a metal-insulator transition of Anderson type. This is one in which the Fermi energy of the electrons passes through a mobility edge separating extended states from states localized by disorder, as the composition or some other parameter is changed. Some of the experimental evidence for this kind of transition is described. In particular, a relatively detailed account is given of the two dimensional inversion layer system in which the relevant parameters may be varied in a single device by direct electrical means.